Surname Wilhide - Meaning and Origin

Wilhide: What does the surname Wilhide mean?

The last name Wilhide is of English origin, believed to have originated in the city of Wilton in the county of Wiltshire. Wiltshire was originally known as ‘Willehide’ as recorded in the Domesday Book, and it is thought that the name Wilhide was derived from this.

The word ‘hide’ first appears in English records during the Anglo-Saxon period, and at the time it was typically used to describe a unit of land that was large enough to sustain a family. The ‘wille’ part of Wilhide could either have come from the way the Wiltshire area was known for a long time, or from Anglo-Saxon words meaning ‘willow’, ‘desire’, ‘state of being’ or ‘wisdom’.

Individuals with the name Wilhide are believed to have moved from Wiltshire to London in the early 1600s and then to America in the 1700s and 1800s. In America they are thought to have mainly settled in Pennsylvania and Virginia. The ‘Wil’ part of the name is thought to have been dropped in the new countries to become ‘Hide’ or ‘Hight’.

The origins of the name Wilhide are thought to be rooted in the mix of Anglo-Saxon ‘hide’ and Wiltshire ‘wille’. It could have initially been used as a marker of a family’s size and power when they lived in Wiltshire, and has become a marker of the family’s journey over the years.

Wilhide: Where does the name Wilhide come from?

The last name Wilhide is most commonly found today in the United States. It is a surname believed to have originated from English roots and centuries ago could have been found in the Middle East and throughout Western Europe. It is a locational surname, which means it was adopted by people living near a certain geographical area, such as a village, town, or city. For Wilhide, the area of origin could be the hamlet of Wilhide, which is located in Huntington Parish, Oxford, England.

Since records began in England in the 11th century, people began to develop hereditary surnames, often for the purpose of distinguishing one family name from another. People living in the same region sometimes adopted similar sounding names. Therefore, Wilhide surnames could have been adopted in many countries including America, although it is believed the original Wilhide family spanned some distance across the British Isles.

In today's modern world, the Wilhide name is most common in the United States. There are records of births, marriages, and death with the Wilhide surname in various regions of the country. In census records, the Wilhide name appears from coast to coast and is particularly popular in the Midwestern states such as Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Indiana. By the year 2019, there are around 513 people in the US who carry the name Wilhide.

Variations of the surname Wilhide

The Wilhide surname has a number of variants, spellings, and other surnames of the same origin.

Wilhide is an Americanized spelling of the German surname Wilheide. It is a combination of the Germanic personal name Wilhelm and the German word heide, meaning “heather” or “heathland” and thus indicating a place of origin.

Variants of Wilhide include Wilhite, Wilheart, Wilhoit, Wilhoite, Wilhite, Willhite, Willhoad, Willide, Willhide, Wilheid, Wilheydt, Wilheyde, Wilhede, and Wilhead.

Other surnames of the same origin as Wilhide include Wilkerson, Will, Willison, Willitson, Wille, Willement, Willems, Willey, Willi, Willever, Willingham, Wilmer, Wilmert, Wilmott, Willwerth, Wilker, Wilkson, Willman, Willms, Wilmont, and Willoughby.

Most of these have English origins, with the exception of a handful of German spelling variants, though the spellings are all quite similar. In addition, Wilhide has a variety of nicknames, such as Will, Willie, Willy, and Hide.

Despite the wide variety of spellings and nicknames, all are derived from the same Germanic root and the same origin can be attributed to them.

Famous people with the name Wilhide

• Kelly Wilhide: an American actress best known for her work in the 2017 film Forever My Girl and the 2018 TV series The Royals.
• Michael Wilhide: an American artist and entrepreneur who specializes in creating unique and eclectic art pieces.
• Joshua Wilhide: a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter currently competing in the UFC Lightweight Division.
• Ashleigh Wilhide: an American YouTube star known for her beautiful manicures and lifestyle videos.
• Don Wilhide: a retired professional baseball player who spent most of his Major League career with the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Lauren Wilhide: an award-winning actress, most known for her roles in the sitcoms Friends with Benefits and Legally Blonde 2.
• John Wilhide: a former American football quarterback and coach, who last served as the offensive coordinator for the UConn Huskies.
• Kathy Wilhide: a celebrated interior designer and the owner of Wilhide & Associates, a design firm specializing in high-end residential projects.
• Rose Wilhide: an American journalist and environmental activist, who has been featured on ABC News and National Geographic Magazine for her work with conservation.
• David Wilhide: a Grammy-nominated record producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who has worked with a variety of artists in the music industry.

Other surnames

Wilhite